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Topic: 2nd PETER 1:4 (Read 62 times)

2nd PETER 1:4 -- POWER IN CHRIST TO OVERCOME SIN2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Son of God was assaulted at every step by the powers of darkness. After His baptism He was driven of the Spirit into the wilderness, and suffered temptation for forty days. Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man's nature, He could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, He could not have been tempted as man has been. If it were not possible for Him to yield to temptation, He could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that Christ came to fight the battles as man, in man's behalf. His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the divine nature. {5BC 1082.1}

In Christ, divinity and humanity were combined. Divinity was not degraded to humanity; divinity held its place, but humanity, by being united to divinity, withstood the fiercest test of temptation in the wilderness. The prince of this world came to Christ after His long fast, when He was an hungered, and suggested to Him to command the stones to become bread. But the plan of God, devised for the salvation of man, provided that Christ should know hunger, and poverty, and every phase of man's experience. He withstood the temptation, through the power that man may command. He laid hold on the throne of God, and there is not a man or woman who may not have access to the same help through faith in God. Man may become a partaker of the divine nature; not a soul lives who may not summon the aid of Heaven in temptation and trial. Christ came to reveal the source of His power, that man might never rely on his unaided human capabilities. {5BC 1082.2}

Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their being. They must agonize on their knees before God for divine power. Christ came to be our example, and to make known to us that we may be partakers of the divine nature. How?--By having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust. Satan did not gain the victory over Christ. He did not put his foot upon the soul of the Redeemer. He did not touch the head though he bruised the heel.Christ, by His own example, made it evident that man may stand in integrity. Men may have a power to resist evil--a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them [(RH Feb. 18, 1890). {5BC 1082.3}

2nd Peter 1 v. 4 Promises To Be Partakers Of The Divine NaturePromise Of God’s Presence For Those Who Invite Him Into The Heart

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me

Promises Of God’s Presence For Those who Keep His Words

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Promises Of God’s Presence For Those Who Dwell In God’s Love

1 John 4:16 ... God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Promises Of A New Heart & A Right Spirit Within

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you….

Promises To Be A New Person In Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Promise That “The Law Of The Spirit” (Which Is A Life In Christ Jesus) Will Set Us Free From The” Law Of The Flesh” – Which Is “The Law Of Sin & Death!”

Rom 8:2-4 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2nd Peter 1:4 "... having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

It is by living in Christ that we escape the corruption in the world that is caused by lust. Lust is defined as un-holy desire or a longing for something forbidden.

Psa 81:11-12 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Mat_5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Rom_1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Rom_7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Gal_5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Jas_1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Jas_1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn_2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever

1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. [ (ESV) No one who abides in Him [Christ] keeps on sinning]

1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.[ does not keep on sinning]

1Co 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

It is through God's promises that we become partaker's of his Divine nature. It is how we abide in Christ & submit ourselves to the direction of the Holy Spirit!

So by believing in and claiming the promises we receive the Divine nature?

We become partakers of the Divine nature – partakers of God’s Spirit!

We have more of the presence of the Holy Spirit as we claim the fulfillment of God’s promises! The promise of forgiveness of sin in 1John 1:9 is coupled with a promise of cleansing from sin! The assimilation of God’s Word in the heart & life keeps us from sin! cf Psa_119:9; Eph_5:26

God has promised us “a new heart” & “a right spirit”! Eze. 36:26

After David’s great sin he plead with God for a clean heart & a right spirit!

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psa_51:10

As God’s people prepare for the “Latter Rain” they must first prepare their hearts for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the “ former rain”!

It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.--5T 214 (1882). {LDE 192.3}

There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church. . . . Every temptation, every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be successfully resisted, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).--1SM 124 (1887). {LDE 192.4}

The latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord--fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.--1SM 191 (1892). {LDE 193.1}